BOZEMAN, Mont., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that its experimental vaccine provided significant protection against norovirus infection and related gastrointestinal illness collectively known as acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Norovirus infection, sometimes referred to as "the stomach flu" is one of the most common causes of severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea afflicting 21 million Americans annually and is an important contributor to gastrointestinal disease worldwide. This was the first time a vaccine has demonstrated protection against norovirus. No commercially available vaccines or specific therapies currently exist to prevent or treat norovirus infection. The results of the Phase I/II study, conducted with a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine, were published today in The New England Journal of Medicine. This study was a multi-center trial performed in collaboration with a consortium including Baylor College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, SNBL CPC, Inc., University of Maryland and The EMMES Corporation.

"This is the first demonstration of protection in humans against what is a widespread and often serious illness and is a big development for the field," said Robert Atmar, M.D., of Baylor College of Medicine and the study's principal investigator. "The number of hospitalizations and the healthcare costs associated with norovirus are staggering; a successful vaccine against norovirus would offer significant protection to patients as well as potential cost reductions for the healthcare system." Click here for a video interview with Dr. Atmar from Baylor College of Medicine.

"The positive results from this rigorous challenge study demonstrate that norovirus gastroenteritis, which can result in severe illness in many people, can be prevented by vaccination," said Donald P. Beeman, LigoCyte's Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to the results of upcoming clinical studies of the product."

Specifically, data from the study show:

In the 77 adults who completed the trial per its original protocol, vaccination decreased the incidence of gastroenteritis due to norovirus from 69.2 percent to 36.8 percent, a 47 percent reduction in illness compared to subjects receiving placebo (95% CI 15.2%-66.6%; p=.006).

Immunization with the VLP vaccine increased antibody titers that blocked VLP binding to histo blood group antigens in vitro.

Higher functional antibody responses in all subjects correlated with increased protection against illness. A serum BT50 titer of 200 or greater was associated with a 72.2 percent reduction in virus-associated illness (odds ratio of 8.1 (95% CI 2.1-31.2)).

Adverse events occurred with similar frequency among vaccine and placebo subjects. The most common symptoms after vaccination included nasal congestion, stuffiness and sneezing.

About Norovirus Illness

Norovirus gastroenteritis is a widespread and potentially severe illness characterized by the acute onset of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and occasionally fever. Noroviruses are highly infective and easily transmitted from person to person or via contaminated environments. Epidemic outbreaks occur in community environments, particularly hospitals, hotels, schools, day care facilities and nursing homes, with mounting socioeconomic cost to families, the health care system and businesses. Military units are significantly affected when the virus strikes, as outbreaks impact combat readiness. Severe clinical outcomes are reported in older adults, children and immunocompromised individuals in whom infection can lead to substantial complications and can even lead to death.

About the Phase I/II Norovirus Vaccine and Challenge Study

The Phase I/II randomized, double blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy study was designed to evaluate the norovirus monovalent GI.1 VLP vaccine versus placebo in healthy adult volunteers between the ages of 18 and 50 years. The study consisted of two stages: the vaccination stage with post-vaccination follow-up, followed by the challenge stage, in which subjects were exposed to the live virus, with post-challenge follow-up. Subjects received a two-dose intranasal regimen of either the vaccine or placebo on days 0 and 21 and were evaluated for vaccine safety and immune responses. On or after study day 42, subjects were admitted to an inpatient nursing unit, challenged with live norovirus, held in the unit for at least four days following challenge and then followed for post-challenge safety and efficacy with multiple clinical assessments and collection of stool specimens. The study was conducted at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and SNBL CPC, Inc., a clinical research organization in Baltimore, Md.

About LigoCyte's Norovirus Vaccine Candidate

LigoCyte's norovirus vaccine contains virus-like particle (VLP) antigens representing the live virus while lacking the ability to reproduce or cause illness. VLPs mimic the natural virus by preserving the authentic structure of the viral capsid, the shell of protein that protects the nucleic acid of a virus. LigoCyte's VLP technology enables the production of vaccines that are designed to cover multiple genetic varieties (or 'strains') of norovirus. LigoCyte's vaccine formulation also includes the adjuvant Monophosphoryl Lipid A, provided under license from GlaxoSmithKline PLC (NYSE: GSK), and the nasal vaccine incorporates chitosan. This application of chitosan (ChiSys®) has been licensed from Archimedes Development Ltd.(1)

A clinical study of a multi-strain (bivalent) formulation of LigoCyte's norovirus vaccine is ongoing. Preliminary results from that study were presented by one of the principal investigators in the study, Sharon Frey, M.D., from the Saint Louis University Center for Vaccine Development at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, at the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) 2011 Annual Meeting on October 21 in Boston, Mass. Data presented at the meeting indicate that the bivalent vaccine induces immune responses that are even more potent than the single strain (monovalent) vaccine.

About LigoCyte

LigoCyte is a private, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel vaccines for gastrointestinal and respiratory indications. LigoCyte's expertise in virus-like particle technology supports a pipeline of enhanced product candidates, including vaccines against norovirus, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and rotavirus. LigoCyte has funded its product development efforts through a mix of private investment as well as grants and contracts administered through the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense. LigoCyte's investors include Forward Ventures, JAFCO, Novartis Venture Fund, Fidelity Biosciences, MedImmune Ventures, Athenian Venture Partners and MC Life Sciences Ventures (Mitsubishi International Corporation). GlaxoSmithKline is also a shareholder of the company. For additional information on LigoCyte, please visit www.ligocyte.com.

(1) ChiSys is a trademark of Archimedes Development Ltd., and is registered as a CTM, as a U.S. Registered Trademark and in certain other jurisdictions.

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